Simon, Carol A.
2017.
PolydoraandDipolydora(Polychaeta: Spionidae) Associated with Molluscs on the South Coast of South Africa, with Descriptions of Two New Species.
African Invertebrates,
Vol. 52,
Issue. 1,
p.
39.

Eight species of polydorid polychaetes were found to inhabit mollusc shells from south-western Australian waters. Numerous individuals of Polydora uncinata were extracted for the first time from the shells of both land-based cultured abalone Haliotis laevigata and H. roei, as well as from natural subtidal H. roei and Chlamys australis. Shells of the oyster Saccostrea commercialis cultured in sea-based systems were infested by Boccardia knoxi which was first recorded in these waters. Polydora aura, Dipolydora giardi, D. armata, D. aciculata and Boccardia proboscidea were common among shells of various natural intertidal and subtidal molluscs. A small number of P. haswelli were extracted from their self-excavated burrows in shells of cultured oysters. Boccardia knoxi and D. aciculata were redescribed based on the newly collected materials. Polydora uncinata and B. knoxi exhibited similar larval development patterns (exolecithotrophy and adelphophagy), iteroparity and longer life span, suggesting a high reproductive potential. This study suggests that further monitoring of polydorid species is needed not only from the viewpoint of marine biology but also to survey the risk invasive species pose to commercially important molluscs in this region and worldwide.

H.Kojima and M.Imajima (1982) Burrowing polychaetes in the shells of abalone Haliotis diversicolor aquatilis chiefly on the species of Polydora. Bulletin of the Japanese Society of Scientific Fisheries48, 31–35. [In Japanese with English abstract].